DOWN A LEAFY, HERTFORDSHIRE LANE ……….

You know that moment when you first saw Venice, or when you turned that corner in Florence and saw The Duomo and when you saw the Brighton Pavilion for the first time ?

Well, down a leafy Hertfordshire lane, not a ten minute drive from our home is one of those moments, albeit on a slightly smaller scale …….. and, I've only just realised that it's there !!!!

Set in eighty acres of beautiful gardens and free for anyone who wants to visit is this most amazing Jain Dharma Temple.

The temple was completed in 2005. Made of sandstone and marble, hand carved in India by over two hundred masons, it is surrounded by formal gardens.

Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to Nirvana is to live lives of peace and harmlessness.

Photography wasn't allowed inside the temple but I took the two above before I realised !!

We were given the history and taken to the large house where I managed to get the obligatory chandelier photograph !! Someone said that George Harrison had bought the house but I couldn't find any information about that although, it would fit, wouldn't it ?

….. we were shown the modern buildings comprising of three large halls for wedding receptions, plays and concerts and a nursery. There is also a state of the art children's playground. 

We were then invited back to the main house where they preceded to serve us samosas, rice, tea, cakes and biscuits all homemade and served to us by the ladies wearing their beautiful saris !! I don't think that they usually do that ….. we were very fortunate that day. Everyone was so welcoming, friendly and kind … . it didn't cost a penny { although most people made a donation } and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I can't believe that I didn't know it was there !!

image 1: via geograph, images 2 - 11 : via me, image 12: via pinterest, image 13: via walking times

CLEVER ADVERTISING …...

John Lewis always do a great advert …..

video via YouTube

BLOGGING ……….

What do you think of this blogging lark ? 

It's a bit of an odd thing, isn't it ?

 Famous people often say that it's strange to be recognised ….. they meet people who think that they ' know ' them because of all the information they have read about them …… blogging is a bit like that. We think that we ' know ' bloggers but we don't sometimes, do we ?  Sometimes we connect with people and sometimes we don't. There have been bloggers that I thought I got on with and I have given my all with them but, in the end, I have given up as it's like flogging a dead horse !! That is just part of blogging I guess ….. just like real life really. I suppose the bottom line is that we can't always get on with everyone.

….. and then there are those that stop following you …… I've never stopped following anyone. Perhaps I'm not playing the blogging game properly ?!!!

….. and, do we really know some bloggers ? Do all bloggers show their real persona ?  It's not quite the same as meeting them in real life, is it ? Sometimes there is a miscommunication or misunderstanding ….. maybe you didn't even know it ?

It's funny how we decide whether we like a blogger or not, isn't it ?  Mostly there is some connection or you just like the way they write or they make you laugh. Maybe you like them but they don't feel that you are their type.

I think that it's important to make some sort of connection or blogging relationship with other bloggers, don't you ? …… and for it to be genuine too. 

Blogging is about sharing. It should be a give and take relationship and not one sided.

Mostly it's a case of birds of a feather flock together but not always. It's good to be friends with all ages too. 

I've been blogging for 6 years now and it has changed over the years. Many of the friends that I made have disappeared from the blogging world and have either given up altogether of prefer to connect through Facebook.

I have met a few bloggers and it was lovely to get together and, we got on well. We were all different ages too …. me being the oldest unfortunately !

We do invest in these friendships and I do believe that they are real, although a little different to our real life friendships. 

….. are we friends ? ….. would you invite me round for dinner ? 

ANYWAY …..

I shall continue to blog and write about silly things as I really do enjoy the friendships made. It is a little disappointing to lose some of the friends made along the way but that's just the way it is. 

Do I know you ? ….. do you know me ? Whatever the case, we can continue getting to know each other.

XXXX

images via todaymade, shareaholic, kludgymom, boldomatic, the best friends club, google and me

REMINISCING ……….

Came across this photo yesterday ….. that's me in the middle in the back row, age 17, taken at my school, The Latymer Grammar School 1968 !!!! We were in the Upper Sixth !!! We look more like pupils from St. Trinians !! You can see how I liked to be individual ….. all the other girls have their Summer uniform on and I obviously decided to stay in my Winter uniform !! My hair has stayed virtually the same since then !

Have a listen to Tomorrow Never Knows from The Beatles and see if you were doing much the same as me when you were 17. 

It was a time when we smoked Gauloises or Dunhill International and, if we wanted to be truly sophisticated, St. Moritz menthol !

….. a time to get lifts in MGB's …..

 ….. or to hang around with Mod's and ride on their scooters.

….. having seances and drinking vodka and lime …..

….. hanging out all day in Biba …..

….. going to see The Beatles at Finsbury Park Astoria …..

Dancing to the likes of  Cream, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, The Who, The Moody Blues and Jimmi Hendrix at The Marquee or going to Samantha's and The Purple Pussycat …..

Shopping at Chelsea Girl …..

Meeting friend's for a chocolate milkshake in the Wimpy …..

Wearing hot pants and suede boots …..

….. and mini skirts …..

….. painting on lower lashes and freckles, like Twiggy …..

….. and spending Saturday in Carnaby Street.

It really was great to be a teenager in the 1960's  !

XXXX

tomorrow never knows - the beatles: via YouTube, image 1: via me, image 2: via distal, image 3: via pinstopin, image 4: via fan pop, image 5: via the magic cafe, image 6: gala darling, image 7: via islington.gov, image 8: via tumblr, image 9: via telegraph, images 10 & 12: via pinterest, image 11: via digilander, image 13: via boro, image 14: via best dressed ginger

INDUSTRIOUS ……….

It's amazing how much you can get done in a day, isn't it ?

Our family is known for how well we all sleep. Our daughter can get on a plane, fall asleep on take-off and wake up in Australia ! Our son is the same. My Dad would fall asleep whilst he was talking to us and I can sleep anywhere.

BUT, there is the occasional time when I just can't nod off. I woke up the other day at 5.00 a.m. and just couldn't go back to sleep…..

SO …..

I cleaned the oven …..

did some washing …..

a touch of ironing …..

mowed the lawn …..

made an asparagus, artichoke, tomato and pancetta pasta sauce …..

went and watered a friend's garden { she is on holiday ….. I didn't just turn up and start watering !! }

I cleaned my knobs and knocker !!!!

….. and also looked after grandson Henry ….. we made the Lego Space Shuttle !!

image 1: via oddee, image 2: via undressing parlour: image 3: via pinterest, image 4: via cush and j crew, image 5: via style caster, image 6: via republic of you, images 7 & 8: via ME.